1. Look for Hallucinations
It is rare for schizophrenia to appear in children, as this is a mental illness that tends to appear far more often in adolescence and adulthood. If you suspect your child may be suffering from the disease, however, it is essential to remain alert for the telltale signs, such as hallucinations, delusions and thought disorders.
Hallucinations tend to be auditory in nature, especially in the form of hearing voices. These can occasionally be paired with visual and even olfactory (odor) hallucinations, but clinicians rarely see the latter two on their own. If a child suffers from visual or olfactory illusions without any auditory component, this may be an indication something else is at work, such as a tumor or brain damage.
2. Look for Delusions
Delusions are generally considered diagnostic for schizophrenia as well, so you may be able to gain some knowledge by asking a few pointed questions. Although a professional evaluation is essential for a true diagnosis, it's wise to be on the lookout for any sign of a fixed and false belief about how the world works, especially if you have a family history of schizophrenia. The difficulty with children lies in separating fanciful make-believe from true delusion--again, professional intervention is a must.
3. Look for Thought Disorders
Finally, you want to be on the lookout for signs of a thought disorder, which refers to an inability to organize or focus one's thoughts in a cogent way. All children are somewhat scattered, of course, so you are really looking for a chronic inability to order logical progressions such as the elements in a story. Schizophrenics often have trouble answering questions in a way that addresses the actual point of interest as well. Professional evaluation will help here as well, particularly if you can get a personal history through talk therapy or have a full workup done by a licensed clinician. You can find a referral at "Mental Health America."
